Rupert Murdoch Apologizes For NY Post Editorial Cartoon

Rupert Murdoch and wife Wendi Deng at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Media baron Rupert Murdoch apologized for last week's controversial NY Post cartoon— which shows a fatally shot chimp and one cop saying, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill"— with an statement printed in the NY Post.

As the Chairman of the New York Post, I am ultimately responsible for what is printed in its pages. The buck stops with me.

Last week, we made a mistake. We ran a cartoon that offended many people. Today I want to personally apologize to any reader who felt offended, and even insulted.

Over the past couple of days, I have spoken to a number of people and I now better understand the hurt this cartoon has caused. At the same time, I have had conversations with Post editors about the situation and I can assure you - without a doubt - that the only intent of that cartoon was to mock a badly written piece of legislation. It was not meant to be racist, but unfortunately, it was interpreted by many as such.

We all hold the readers of the New York Post in high regard and I promise you that we will seek to be more attuned to the sensitivities of our community.

Gawker says, "Ha, this officially makes the New York Post a bunch of cheese-eating surrender monkeys!" but we'll Photoshop Murdoch's face onto some surrender monkeys should he fire editor-in-chief Col Allan and the cartoonist, Sean Delonas.

Is Rupert Murdoch's apology for the Post cartoon enough? ( polls)

This follows the Post's quasi-apology, which said the paper was sorry for offending people except for "some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past - and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback," referring to the Reverend Al Sharpton. Sharpton, who has held a number of protests about the cartoon and wants the FCC to investigate Murdoch's waiver to have multiple newspapers and TV stations in one city, has not commented about the News Corp. chairman's apology—yet. Update: Sharpton will be discussing Murdoch's apology at 11:30 a.m., in front of City Hall.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 24, 2009 10:38 AM

Comments [rss]

contro

I am glad Jen Chung is not like Wendi, Jen Chung is much cuter.

felixthecat2

zionist Murdoch push an agenda that called Americans loser if they withdrew from Iraq and now this chickenshit surrender to Fat Al. LMAO

felixthecat2

zionist Murdoch push an agenda that called Americans loser is they withdrew from Iraq and now this chickenshit surrender to Fat Al. LMAO

fugothamist

what a beautiful couple

http://www.indexoz.com/people/business/rupert-murdoch/wendi-deng-2.jpg

felixthecat2

She isn't attractive at all but I am sure she is freaky. those type do anything for money, probably sucks Murdoch's horns.

matthew gannon

Is he going to apologize for Glenn Beck?

snickerdoodle

Why apologize for something that wasn't even racist, except in the racist's minds? Pretty stupid if you ask me.

valeriob

It's a matter of perception. It's a powerful concept.

felixthecat2

LMAO "It's a matter of perception. It's a powerful concept', damn, you are a retard

whitecastlerock

Murdoch should apologize for the cost increase on weekends and the ever shrinking page size. He should apologize for keeping Phil Mushnick on the payroll.

Gothampc

"Update: Sharpton will be discussing Murdoch's apology at 11:30 a.m., in front of City Hall."

Al, you're ruining Fat Tuesday.

freddynyc

Hmm, as the wife of a billionaire media mogul you would think that she could have found a better outfit than that.

Gothamist_Cynic

His wife looks like another gold digger.

Steven

If only Sharpton and his entourage put this much effort in the black community to clean up the violence and show kids how important education is.

Rocknrope

And keeping grandmothers from killing their grandsons.

tmz is evil

And keeping 10 year olds from killing their pregnant future stepmothers in cold blood. And 8 year olds from blowing away their father and his visitor with a rifle.

Oh, wait-- they weren't black, but 100% white. My bad!

JacqueMehoff

oh man, that 10 yr old killing his pregnant step mom is bizarre. that kid got problems, serious problems.

he shot her in the back of her head while she was sleeping.

it was her daughter who told police.

he's being charged as an adult.

AvenueHebrew

All I wanted was just an apology for the cartoon being completely unfunny. Not in an offensive or over-the-line kind of way. Just completely lacking effective humor. I'm offended that somebody so unfunny would be allowed to hold such a position with a major publication. Because that's some high school amateur hour shit right there.

JacqueMehoff

you're doing good Mr. Murdoch.

there's hope for us all.

now back it up by firing col alan and delonas.

moorecor

3 words. Mail order bride

Gothampc

She's too tall to be a mail order bride. She wouldn't fit in the UPS box.

freddynyc

Asian women are quite ambitious, no?

Gothampc

Just as Yoko broke up the Beatles, this chick is trying to break up Rupe's media empire.

zpk

Maybe he should apologize for flooding the streets of New York with unconscionable bullshit on a daily basis.

fugothamist

is the money really worth it, Wendi?

freddynyc

Judging by the pained expression on her face, I would say that these "photo ops" with Rupert are taking it's toll...

Rocknrope

Given her history, it's not a surprise.

Gothampc

"Sharpton will be discussing Murdoch's apology at 11:30 a.m., in front of City Hall."

Does City Hall rent him space by the hour? All his little dramas always wind up in front of City Hall.

valeriob

His name is Rupert, give him a break.

felixthecat2

No, you italian peasant, I don't need to talk about your pudding, change you shorts and move on, fat peasant

thefacts

Murdoch has socks older than the wife.

valeriob

He didn't need to apologize. ::VOTE::

Don't even think about it Felixthecat...

I know you are itching to comment about jello pudding or something.